HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpecial Committee of the Whole May 6 2008WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL
Special Committee Of The Whole
May 6, 2008
Council Chair Carl Weimer called the meeting to order at 1:30 p.m. in the Council
Conference Room, 311 Grand Avenue, Bellingham, Washington.
Present: Absent:
Barbara Brenner Sam Crawford
Bob Kelly L. Ward Nelson
Seth Fleetwood
Laurie Caskey- Schreiber
CLOSED DISCUSSION
1. DISCUSSION WITH SENIOR DEPUTY PROSECUTOR KAREN FRAKES
REGARDING PENDING LITIGATION (AB2008 -018)
Brenner moved to go into executive session to discuss this item.
Motion carried unanimously.
OPEN DISCUSSION
1. REQUEST AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH BRICKLIN
NEWMAN DOLD, LLP, TO ASSIST IN REPRESENTING THE COUNTY BEFORE
THE WESTERN WASHINGTON GROWTH MANAGEMENT HEARINGS BOARD, IN
THE AMOUNT OF $90,000 (AB2008 -182A)
(C lerk's Note: The Committee came out of executive session at 2:23 p.m.)
Brenner stated Councilmember Crawford was concerned that Mr. Bricklin had a
conflict of interest.
David Bricklin, attorney, stated the concern he heard about was because he is on the
board of Futurewise. The other concern was that he has worked with the Squalicum Valley
Community Association and the Foothill Friends.
Fleetwood asked if the fact that Mr. Bricklin sued the County in two other actions
makes him ineligible to work on this contract.
Brenner stated Mr. Bricklin is actively assisting in something that is indirectly related
to this, according to Councilmember Crawford. Bricklin stated the action with Foothill
Friends is closest. He originally represented that group in fighting a specific development,
so that wasn't very related to this. Over the last year, it's morphed into a question about
the size of the urban growth area (UGA) out there, which begins to become related.
However, the part of the action for which the County is retaining his services is not involved
Committee of the Whole, 5/6/2008, Page 1
1 in that issue. The action for which the County is asking him to defend doesn't have any
2 impact on that other case.
3
4 Fleetwood asked if it wouldn't have an impact by any implication. Bricklin stated it
5 would not.
6
7 Kelly stated there is also a perceived conflict of interest.
8
9 Brenner stated the appearance of fairness issue has to do with when the Council is
10 acting in a quasi - judicial matter.
11
12 Caskey- Schreiber moved to approve the request.
13
14 Motion carried unanimously.
15
16
17 OTHER BUSINESS
18
19 There was no other business.
20
21 ADJOURN
22
23 T meeting adjourned at approximately 2:30 p.m.
24
25
26
27 Jill Nixon, Minutes Transcription
28
29 The Council approved these minutes on July 8 , 2008.
30
31 ATTF�''(i C+O��I�, WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL oz
32 33 ���``Ja��HAr0 00 YC�� WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
34 �' 0�.6A tyi1F •
35
36 0
37 DSna 11t - air' ncilXlerk Carl Weimer, Council Chair
Gi
Sy1N z,'
Committee of the Whole, 5/6/2008, Page 2